jigheads (particularly to Guy
Micklewright) when using an
extra fast version of the rod
detailed below.
A switch to a softer blank has
all but solved this. Still a ‘fast’
blank; a St Croix Legend Elite
version, the sensitivity is
greater, but the ‘snap’ takes
longer, and in my opinion,
doesn’t allow for the lure to fold
over on itself. Obviously, this
also means the lure is working
better all the time, meaning less
time wasted untangling rigs and
therefore keeping the lure in the
zone longer. Using a heavier
head (40g+) also alleviates these
issues, due to a lack of hang
time, and consequently I use a
different rod for these, a BFT
Microwave 60g. With a much
stiffer blank, it handles heavier
heads better whilst still
retaining good feeling. The
downside to this of course is
that 40g is often far too heavy
for the conditions, and frankly
is not as pleasant an experience
to fish with.
The above rods mentioned
have tubular tips. Solid tipped
rods also have their place in
jigging, although in my
experience more from a casting
perspective. The sensitivity of
a solid tip is more useful here,
and with solid tips generally
being a bit more pliable, they
cannot impart the action
needed for vertical jigging.
Sensitivity is more important
than almost anything else in
this kind of fishing. Yes, the
ability to set the hook is
incredibly important, but on
slow days, knowing that you
will feel anything abnormal
gives more confidence.
Understanding that your lure
is performing exactly how you
want it to is key, and if it isn’t,
consider the reasons why.
Keith Edmunds
Well there is certainly some
food for thought there, thanks
guys. Tim mentions that
recovery is of paramount
importance and I agree, slow
recovery can also be the main
reason for very fine braids
getting wrapped around the tip
as it continues to ‘quiver’ after
each cast. James talks about
that fine margin in the action
of a vertical jigging rod – fast
enough to move the lure without
absorbing the action in the tip
yet not so rigid that a snap of
the wrist results in a tangled
lure. I am following in James’
footsteps on this and you can
soon amass different rods to
deal precisely with varying lure
weights, depths and drift speeds
- but when you’ve got it right...
Wow! You can really feel it!
As per the title, feedback in a
blank is a two-way conversation,
if you can ‘feel’ the take
resonating down to your palm,
the fish on the other end will
feel your resistance tenfold –
although natural prey will give
some ‘resistance’....think about
it. Conversely, if you can ‘see’
the take on a solid or soft
tipped rod then perhaps you
are betraying your presence
less and your quarry will feel
less resistance. However, such a
soft tip will give you far less lure
control. Try to lift your lure a
couple of inches off the bottom,
40ft below you, and most of
your wrist movement will be
ineffective as the tip will just
bend under the load. Likewise
on the strike – too soft in the
tip sees your arm flailing
skywards as you try to
connect – especially in deep
water or at distance.
If you want to see sensitive
bites and still maintain control
the solution is a flexible (but not
too soft) tip that very quickly
transmutes to a powerful
upper-mid section, within 12 to
18 inches straight into
backbone. For dropshotting,
in my experience, the G Loomis
820DSR is one of the few blanks
that achieves this – pleasingly,
at half the price, the Savage
Gear Finesse 3-12g also shares
these valued attributes. Turn
things up a notch to jigging and
the ‘feel’ will be more important
than any visual tip action. The
fast actioned, super-hi-modulus
blank of the Phenix K2 gives
incredible resonance and I
often find myself ‘in the zone’
with my eyes almost closed and
all of my attention directed
towards the micro vibration
within my hand.
Striking that perfect balance
is a quest in itself and let’s face
it, it is fun trying out new kit,
each time moving a step up
from the last. As Tim states
earlier, you can still catch plenty
of fish on that all-rounder or
less precise tool but, for many
of us, striving towards
technique utopia is almost a
hobby in itself.
In part two Gary Palmer, Vidar
Thomassen and Daniel Law will
share thoughts on the subject and
Tim Kelly will take a deeper look
into dropshot bite indication
Understanding that your lure is
performing exactly how you want
it to is key - here’s the proof
The Phenix K2
blank is famed
for its sensitivity
and feedback
Sharp upward ‘snaps’
from a fast actioned rod
resulted in tangled lures